Boatline.com Blog

Boat owners know that they need to carry sunscreen for themselves but they may not think about how to protect their pets from getting sunburned. Even animals with lots of fur can get burned by the sun’s rays and animals cannot tell you in words when the heat is getting to them.

Some animals can use the same kind of sunscreen that people use as long as it is hypoallergenic. You should check with your vet about what kind of sunscreen to use for your pet.

Where you really need to be careful is your pet’s eyes. Both the eyes and the skin surrounding them can be very sensitive to sunlight but you do not want to use sunscreen near the eyes.

People like to put sunglasses on their pets to be funny or to take pictures. However, if you really want to protect your pet’s eyes when they spend prolonged periods of time on a boat in the sun, get special goggles that are designed for animals. These usually wrap around an animal’s head so they do not fall off and can also protect the eyes from insects.

Keeping your pet protected from sunburn can ensure that your companion enjoys many sailing adventures with you.

Pets, like people, can act a little different aboard a boat because it is not their usual environment but if you take time to make your pet comfortable, you can have a good time.

Another thing that people and pets have in common is a tendency to eat more when they are in unfamiliar places. You can make a boat trip easier on your pet by providing smaller meals more often than you would at home. This may help with nervousness and your pet may find comfort in eating more often, especially the first time you take your pet sailing.

If you leave out dry food for your pet, you can take a trick from food stylists to make it remain appealing: spray a little mist of water on dry food that has been out for a while. Pets are big on scents and the mist will bring out the scent of the food.

A jittery pet may want to chew things on board and this can be dangerous if those things include line that you need or a cord. Rubbing line or cord with a dry bar of soap can discourage chewing.

Sailing is something that can be enjoyed by the entire family, including the four-legged members, with some preparation. You don’t just get on your boat at set sail without gathering supplies for yourself, so take the same precautions with your pet.

Pets need pet-flotation devices (PFDs) that fit well without being restricting movement. Rather than just buying one by looking at it, try it on your pet. You should ask permission first. Most stores that sell marine supplies know that you need to try a PFD on a pet to see how it fits before you commit to buying it.

You don’t want an emergency or accident to be the time when you find out that the PFD you got for your pet does not provide the kind of buoyancy that your pet needs to stay afloat.

To test the effectiveness of a PFD, calmly walk your pet into a body of water that you know to be safe. You know your pet, so you know just how your pet may react to being in the water. If your pet does not like the water, be prepared for this, but keep in mind that you really need to test out the PFD before you take your pet sailing with it.

Before becoming a boat owner, you probably only thought about fuel for cars (even if you did not drive one). When you buy a boat, you have to pay attention not only to fuel costs but to how often and just where you can fill up. And depending on where you buy fuel for your boat, you may be paying taxes that you do not need to pay.

If you notice that you are required to pay highway taxes when you buy gas in your area, have you ever stopped to wonder why? Depending on where you get your gas, those taxes may or may not be authorized.

When you buy gas on land, the person selling you the gas is not going to be able to distinguish between your boat and a vehicle that regularly travels on land. In those situations, there are taxes to be paid because you are buying fuel on the ground in a place where those taxes are applicable.

When you buy gas at a marina, you should not be charged a federal excise tax for marine diesel. If you feel comfortable, you can ask why you are being charged this tax. If you do not feel comfortable approaching someone at the marina, you can contact the IRS.

Boaters should be beware: newer gasoline blends may contain more ethanol than their boat engines can handle. While ethanol is certainly not new and it has been included in gasoline blends since it the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed off on it three decades ago, newer blends are using a higher percentage. Although the addition of ethanol to fuel has been championed as a way to create cleaner-burning fuels that are better for the environment, it is not good for all typed of engines.

According to some, a boat’s engine is not equipped to handle gas that has more than 10 percent ethanol. However new blends that are hitting the market may have more than that, and perhaps even as much as 15 percent. This EPA has said that E15 gas is fine for vehicles that were built after 2001, but it did not include vehicles like boats and motorcycles because E15 gas can damage them. Stations are supposed to mark pumps that have E15 gas, but of course it is possible for this gas to be dispensed without a consumer being aware.

Make inquiries about the fuel you buy for your boat. It is better to ask ahead of time than to be faced with repairs later.